Inside Science Fiction

Second Edition

James Gunn

James Gunn has had a long and distinguished career in science fiction. In addition to his stories and novels, he has written extensively about the reading, writing, and criticism of science fiction. Many of these essays were published in The Science of Science-Fiction Writing (Scarecrow, 2002). A second collection of essays, Inside Science Fiction, was originally published in 1992, and is now available in this revised, updated, and expanded edition. With the addition of five new articles written since 1992, Inside Science Fiction represents Gunn's latest thoughts about the genre.

The book is divided into four major sections that tackle various aspects of the genre:

· "Getting Inside Science Fiction," in which Gunn discusses his relationship with the genre· "Science Fiction and the Teacher" illustrates various approaches to teaching science fiction· "Science Fiction on Film and Television" deals with the film industry's approaches to science fiction, in particular, Gunn's experiences of seeing his novel The Immortals turned into a made-for-television movie and subsequent series· "Science Fiction and the Real World" examines the impact of science fiction on the world and what the future holds for the genre

Inside Science Fiction offers a complete overview of science fiction for readers and viewers from an author, reader, and teacher who has seen it from all sides for more than seventy years.
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James Gunn, emeritus professor of English and director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas, has published 40 books and nearly 100 short stories. His novels include The Immortals, The Joy Makers, The Listeners, and The Dreamers. He has published seven collections of short stories, including Future Imperfect and Breaking Point. His books about science fiction include Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction, The Science of Science Fiction Writing and the six-volume The Road to Science Fiction. He is the only person to serve as president of both the Science Fiction Writers of America and the Science Fiction Research Association. Gunn is the 24th writer recognized by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America as a Grand Master.

Part 1 IntroductionPart 2 Part 1. Getting inside Science FictionChapter 3 1. The Education of a Science Fiction TeacherChapter 4 2. From the Pulps to the Classroom: The Strange Journey of Science FictionChapter 5 3. Science Fiction and the MainstreamChapter 6 4. The GatekeepersChapter 7 5. Fifty Amazing, Astounding, Wonderful YearsChapter 8 6. The Worldview of Science FictionPart 9 Part 2. Science Fiction and the TeacherChapter 10 7. Teaching Science FictionChapter 11 8. Teaching Science Fiction RevisitedChapter 12 9. The Academic ViewpointChapter 13 10. Science Fiction as LiteratureChapter 14 11. The City and the CriticsChapter 15 12. Libraries in Science FictionChapter 16 13. The Protocols of Science FictionPart 17 Part 3. Science Fiction on Film and TelevisionChapter 18 14. The Tinsel ScreenChapter 19 15. Television and The ImmortalChapter 20 16. The Great Science Fiction Radio ShowChapter 21 17. Looking Backward at 2001Part 22 Part 4. Science Fiction and the Real WorldChapter 23 18. The Uses of SpaceChapter 24 19. A Short History of the Space Program; or, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the MoonChapter 25 20. Shapechangers and FearmongersChapter 26 21. Science Fiction and the FutureChapter 27 22. Science Fiction in the NinetiesChapter 28 23. Science Fiction in the Second MillenniumPart 29 A James Gunn BibliographyPart 30 IndexPart 31 About the Author

In this collection of essays, Gunn (English, U. of Kansas, emeritus) discusses his relationship with science fiction as a writer and critic and offers several approaches to teaching works in the genre. He also discusses the film industry's treatment of science fiction and its impact on the "real world." This revised and expanded edition includes five articles published since the book's first publication in 1992.— Reference and Research Book News, August 2006

...Gunn writes clearly and directly. He doesn't talk down to a mass audience, and he doesn't lapse into jargony shorthand when he's with a supposedly better-informed group. Moreover, the essays are studded with wry wit....as a model of clear, well-informed writing for general readers, it's worth recommending strongly to your neighborhood library.— The New York Review Of Science Fiction, January 2007

...a fascinating set of essays...this is a valuable addition to the historical literature on science fiction...— Green Man Review

Inside Science Fiction

Second Edition

Paperback

Summary

Summary

James Gunn has had a long and distinguished career in science fiction. In addition to his stories and novels, he has written extensively about the reading, writing, and criticism of science fiction. Many of these essays were published in The Science of Science-Fiction Writing (Scarecrow, 2002). A second collection of essays, Inside Science Fiction, was originally published in 1992, and is now available in this revised, updated, and expanded edition. With the addition of five new articles written since 1992, Inside Science Fiction represents Gunn's latest thoughts about the genre.

The book is divided into four major sections that tackle various aspects of the genre:

· "Getting Inside Science Fiction," in which Gunn discusses his relationship with the genre· "Science Fiction and the Teacher" illustrates various approaches to teaching science fiction· "Science Fiction on Film and Television" deals with the film industry's approaches to science fiction, in particular, Gunn's experiences of seeing his novel The Immortals turned into a made-for-television movie and subsequent series· "Science Fiction and the Real World" examines the impact of science fiction on the world and what the future holds for the genre

Inside Science Fiction offers a complete overview of science fiction for readers and viewers from an author, reader, and teacher who has seen it from all sides for more than seventy years.

James Gunn, emeritus professor of English and director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas, has published 40 books and nearly 100 short stories. His novels include The Immortals, The Joy Makers, The Listeners, and The Dreamers. He has published seven collections of short stories, including Future Imperfect and Breaking Point. His books about science fiction include Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction, The Science of Science Fiction Writing and the six-volume The Road to Science Fiction. He is the only person to serve as president of both the Science Fiction Writers of America and the Science Fiction Research Association. Gunn is the 24th writer recognized by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America as a Grand Master.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Part 1 IntroductionPart 2 Part 1. Getting inside Science FictionChapter 3 1. The Education of a Science Fiction TeacherChapter 4 2. From the Pulps to the Classroom: The Strange Journey of Science FictionChapter 5 3. Science Fiction and the MainstreamChapter 6 4. The GatekeepersChapter 7 5. Fifty Amazing, Astounding, Wonderful YearsChapter 8 6. The Worldview of Science FictionPart 9 Part 2. Science Fiction and the TeacherChapter 10 7. Teaching Science FictionChapter 11 8. Teaching Science Fiction RevisitedChapter 12 9. The Academic ViewpointChapter 13 10. Science Fiction as LiteratureChapter 14 11. The City and the CriticsChapter 15 12. Libraries in Science FictionChapter 16 13. The Protocols of Science FictionPart 17 Part 3. Science Fiction on Film and TelevisionChapter 18 14. The Tinsel ScreenChapter 19 15. Television and The ImmortalChapter 20 16. The Great Science Fiction Radio ShowChapter 21 17. Looking Backward at 2001Part 22 Part 4. Science Fiction and the Real WorldChapter 23 18. The Uses of SpaceChapter 24 19. A Short History of the Space Program; or, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the MoonChapter 25 20. Shapechangers and FearmongersChapter 26 21. Science Fiction and the FutureChapter 27 22. Science Fiction in the NinetiesChapter 28 23. Science Fiction in the Second MillenniumPart 29 A James Gunn BibliographyPart 30 IndexPart 31 About the Author

Reviews

Reviews

In this collection of essays, Gunn (English, U. of Kansas, emeritus) discusses his relationship with science fiction as a writer and critic and offers several approaches to teaching works in the genre. He also discusses the film industry's treatment of science fiction and its impact on the "real world." This revised and expanded edition includes five articles published since the book's first publication in 1992.— Reference and Research Book News, August 2006

...Gunn writes clearly and directly. He doesn't talk down to a mass audience, and he doesn't lapse into jargony shorthand when he's with a supposedly better-informed group. Moreover, the essays are studded with wry wit....as a model of clear, well-informed writing for general readers, it's worth recommending strongly to your neighborhood library.— The New York Review Of Science Fiction, January 2007

...a fascinating set of essays...this is a valuable addition to the historical literature on science fiction...— Green Man Review